Popcorn machine



July 12, 1938. F. l. ROACH POPCORN MACHINE Filed Nov. 1, 1954 4Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR, 27a/ [Pc/ ATTORNEYS.

July 12, 1938. F. l. RoAcH POPCORN MACHINE Filed Nov. l, 1934 4Sheets-Sheet 2 1NVENTOR, Way/ Fase/.

l W ATTORNEYS.

F. l. ROACH POPCORN MACHINE July 12, 1938.

Filed Nov. l, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 R, ,wv mh. E m wo n 1F A WJ.

of time.

Patented'July l2, 1938 UNITED STATES POPCORN MACHINE Floyd I. Roach,Kansas City, Mo., asslgnor, by mesne assignments, to PopmaticManufacturing Company, St. Louis', Mo. I

Application November 1, 1934, Serial No. '150,946

2 Claims.

for popping corn while it is submerged or suspended'below the level of anon-aqueous solution, such as the well knownpopping oil; means formaintaining the said popping oil. at a predetermined level; means forintroducing a' charge of corn to be popped into the said oil at certaintimes during the operation of the machine; vapparatus for introducing acharge. of saltato lthe t' i ov popped com as the latter is being empled nt view the final-steps in the popping operation and suitablereceptacle; and means for feeding a sack or the like from themachinebetween theftime the unpopped corn is introduced jto lthehoppingA oil and the time the popping is completed. A yet further objectof this invention is the provision in a pop corn machine having'theafore-` mentioned characteristics, of electrical-structure after thesame has been heated to apredetermined degree, said electrical structurebeing adapted to operate the container for the popped corn so that it islifted from the popping oil at the end of the popping action or afterthe corn has remained in the container for a given length Otherimportant objects of this invention include unique structure foraccomplishing the aforementioned broad aims and these objects, togetherwith a complete description of a pop corn machine embodying one form ofthe invention will be set forth in the following specification,referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical, central sectional view through a pop cornmachine made in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical, cross section through the machine, taken on lineII--Il of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the machine, taken along line III-III of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal transverse section through the machine, taken online IV-IV of Flg.-3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse, sectional view, taken on line V-V of Fig. 3. Y f

Figs. 6 and '7 are enlarged, fragmentary, detailed views of the latchingmechanism employed in the machine. 5

Fig. 8 is av detailed, fragmentary, sectional view showing one of theswitches employed in the machine for. controlling the heating element.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged, sectional view showing the heating element, takenon linev IX'IX of Fig. l, and, l

Fig.- l is a schematic view showing the wiring system employed in themachine.` A

'Ihe case I2 of the pop corn machine is provided With a removable topI4, whereby oil, pop corn and salt might be introduced and anotherdoorI6 in the back of the machine is vremovably afxed so that thesack-carrying receptacle might be lled when necessary. The front of themachine is provided with a transparent panel I8 so that the 'operatormight the dumping of the popped'corn into a suitable chutev provided forthe purpose. Any form of case I2 might be employed, however, to housev'the operating parts of the machine, but it is preferable that the casevI2 be large enough to permit the formation of a delivery recess 20, set

, i I2 which serves to insure that the charge of um olf n case by ahousing 22 which 1s set 1m popped corn is introduced into the poppingoil mediately behind delivery opening 24 formed in the front of case I2below panel I8. In so constructing case I2, the only projecting partswill be the conventional type coin-receiving mechanism 26 and itsmanually operable slide member 28. A reservoir 30 within case I2 isadapted to 35 hold a quantity of popping oil which is supplied theretofrom storage tank 32 through the medium of a feed conduit 34 whichterminates at end 36 that is on oil level 38, below which the unpoppedcorn is suspended, as will more fully hereinafter be described.

Reservoir 30 extends upwardly to form an enclosure having an open sidethrough which may pass container 42 that is pivotally mounted upon apintle 44 supported by said enclosure. 45 Oil 46 is fed from storagetank 32 and obviously maintained at level 38 in reservoir 30 through theordinary well known actions of gravity and liquid level.

In order to heat the popping oil, there is provided a suitable heatingelement 48 which, in this instance, is within reservoir 30 and submergedwithin popping oil 46. 'I'his heating element comprises a number ofcoils of resistance wire. These heating elements 48 may be placed in anypart of reservoir 38 which has the upwardly turned portion 58 tocircumscribe the lower end of conduit 34.

'I'he unpopped corn 52 is stored in a hopper 54 and fed into container42 through a throat 56 that joins hopper 54 and member 48. A portion ofthroat 56 has a measuring structure built therein and the size of thecharge of corn 52 may be determined by an adjustable regulating member58 which may be moved back and forth through the medium of the adjustingbolt 68. Upper and lower slides 62 and 64 respectively set off, thecharge of corn 52 and their operation at proper times allows theintroduction of the charge of corn into container 42. When this chargeof corn is dropped into container 42, it immediately settles to aposition therein below level 38 of popping oil 46 and on to the bottomof container 42 that is below said level 38. Perforations 66 formedthrough the bottom of container 42 insure that popping oil will bewithin Icontainer 42, but these perforations must be small enough topreclude passing through of the grains of unpopped corn.

A main shaft 68 is rotated at a very low speed by motor M and as thisshaft rotates, upper and lower slides 62 and 64 are caused toreciprocate so that when at one end of their paths of travelrespectively, they are intersecting the throat 56.

In order to so operate these slides and feed the corn at the propertime, said slides 62 and 64 each have a link 18 and 12 respectivelywhich joins it to a. coacting rocker arm. Upper rocker arm 14 has a.nose 16 formed thereon, to be engaged by a cam. 18 mounted upon shaft68. Lower rocker arm 88 has a projection 82 thereon for engagement witha cam 84 which is also mounted upon shaft 68 for rotation therewith.Both of these rocker arms 14 and 88 are pivotally aflixed at their oneend as at 86 to the side of case I2, while the opposite ends thereofjoin their respective slides 62 and 64 so that they may be operated asshaft 68 turns to cause cams 18 and 84 to engage these arms. Thearrangement of this mechanism is such that when lower slide 64 is openedto release a charge of corn, upper slide 62 is closed tohold back corn52 in hopper 54; then when lower slide 64`is closed, upper slide 62remains open until the charge of corn flows into the measuring portionof the throat. In the positions shown in Fig. 1, both slides are closedand the machine has just started to operate by the introduction of acoin.

As shaft 68 turns, cam 84 will rotate therewith and as soon as shoulder85 thereon reaches projection 82, spring 81 which joins together arms 14and 88 will quickly snap lower slide 64 to the open position; then asthe shaft 68 continues to rotate the face of cam 84 will move againstprojection 82 to return lower slide 64 to the closed position, spring 81being extended during the operation. Immediately thereafter cam 18 willmove against nose 16 and force arm 14 outwardly to move upper slide 62to the open position. As this action takes place, the concentric face 88of cam 84 will hold arm 88 in a fixed position so y that spring 81 mightbe stretched in moving arm 14.

Means for supplying a charge of salt is provided in the form of a saltbin 88 that hasv a flexible tube 98 depending therefrom and in teleas itis being dumped into a sack or the like held by the operator. These twojaws 84 and 86 are pivotally mounted upon a common pintle 98 carried bytransverse partition |88 and each has an arm |82 and |84 extendingtherefrom, between which is positioned aspring |86 that normally urgesthese arms apart. A connecting rod |88 joins a part vof the hereinafterdescribed mechanis'm which acts upon container 42 to rock the same froma position wh`ere a part of its perforated portion is below the oillevel 38 and as connecting rod |88 is moved, it will actuate lever ||8to rock jaws 84 and 96 to and from engagement with tube 88.

Lever ||8 is pivotally mounted at its one end to partition |88 as at I2,while its free end is joined as at ||4 to rod I|6 which has an upper andlower stop ||8 and |28 respectively. These stops are adapted to rockjaws 84 and 96 about pivotal point 88 so that the charge of salt set offbetween the points of contact of these jaws will be fed into chute |22as the popped corn is dumped. Stops ||8 and |28 may be adjusted alongthe length of rod ||6 so that the jaws will position themselves properlyas the associated parts of the mechanism are operated. When upper stopv| |8 is moved upwardly to release its hold upon arm |82, spring |86will force apart arms |82 and |84 so that both jaws 84 and 96 are inengagement with tube 88. Then, as stop |28 moves up against arm |84 andcompresses arm |86, lower jaw 86 will move away from tube 88 and allowthe charge of salt confined between the two jaws to drop down asmentioned. Jaw 84 then is holding tube 88 collapsed at its point ofcontact to preclude salt from passing from bin 88 below that point.

Novel means for supplying a sack or similar receptacle to the operatorof the machine is contemplated by this invention, and the embodimentthereof is clearly shown in the drawings. A magazine |24 is pivotallysupported by a. bracket |26 so that oscillating motion might be impartedthereto by the rotating shaft 68. An eccentric member |28 mounted onshaft 68 is connected to magazine |24 by arm |38 so as to move one endof magazine |24 to and fro in front of a lip |32 formed on housing 22.This free end of magazine |24 has an opening |34 formed therein so thata part of the sacks or similar containers |36 will project to be caughtby lip |32. As such action takes place, the operator may continue thewithdrawing operation by grasping the portion of sack |36 which has beenprojected into housing |22. A spring and plate |38 and |48 respectivelyshould be employed to maintain sacks |36 at the open end of magazine|24. The magazine |24 moves from the position shown in solid lines ofFig. 5 to the dotted line position therein and back to the solid lineposition during a complete unitary operation of the machine.

Motor M has an ordinary governor |42 thereon to regulate the speed ofthe motor and the well known type of gear reduction is employed toinsure that shaft 68 will make but one complete revolution between thetime the oil reaches a predetermined temperature in reservoir 38 and thetime the charge of corn 52 is popped. It has been found that this timeapproximates fty (50) seconds when the temperature of the oil is 400degrees F. when the unpopped corn is emptied into the oil.

When the machine is at rest `and awaiting oper-ation, container 42 is inan intermediate with latch |50 and rocker arm 56 and when'I latch |50 ismoved rearwardly to the locked position, rocker arm |56 will be moved tothat position shown in Fig. 3. Because link |58 joins crank |48 andtheupper end of arm |56, container 42 will be moved to the positionshown in'full lines of Fig. 1 where its perforated bot'- tom is belowthe level 38 of the popping oil in reservoir 30. Obviously, arm |58 mustbe pivotally connected to some stationary member as at |60 so that theaforesaid movement on thepart of its one end might take place.

' A main switch |62, having points 64 and |66,

will be closed when arm |56is moved as just` mentioned. Connection tothis switch |62 is made to arm |56 by rod |68 and a spring |10 will movethe switch to the open position when arm |56 returns to the point ofbeginning.

When this switch |62 is closed, heating elements 48 will be energized toheat the oil in res= ervoir 30. Suitable means must be provided forclosing the circuit which supplies electrical energy to motor M when thetemperature of the popping oil in reservoir 30 reaches a predeterminedtemperature, which has been found to be substantially 400 degrees F. Athermostat |12 is a satisfactory means for accomplishing this result,and the same is within reservoir 30 and submerged in the popping oiltherein. As soon as the heating elements 48 have raised the temperatureof the popping oil to the predetermined degree, thermostat |12 will moveagainst contact point |14 to close the motor circuit. Thereupon, shaft68 will commence to slowly rotate about its axis and will operate slides62 and 64 in a manner hereinbefore set'down so that a charge of unpoppedcorn will be emptied into container 42 and be submerged below level 38of the popping oil.

As the shaft continues to rotate it will further operate the cornfeeding mechanism and will also operate magazine |24. Shaft 68shouldtake the same-amount of time to complete one revolution as it takes topop the charge of corn and, obviously, it will be desired to dump thepopped corn as soon as it is popped. Latch |50 is released at theend ofthe complete revolution of shaft 68 by the interengagement of a pin |16,extending laterally from shaft 68, and a pawl |18 pivotally mounted uponlatchl |50. When shaft 68 starts to rotate, these members are in theposition shown in Fig. 6. When pin |16 is carried around it engages oneside of pawl |18, rocks it upwardly, and slides along the inclined sideso engaged until its force lifts latch |50 from dog |52. l

As soon as this latch is released, spring |44 will move container 42 outof the oil in reservoir 30 and to the intermediate position shown indotted lines of Fig. 3. Manifestly, all of the parts connected withspring |44, including arm |56, will be brought back to the positionshown in dotted lines of Fig. 3 where they may be further moved bypulling outwardlyon member 28 for the purpose of dumping` the poppedcorn from container 42 into chute |22 and thence into sack |36 which ispositioned in the delivery recess formed within housing 22. As thisoutward movement is imparted to member 28, crank 48 will be moved sothat it will release a charge of salt by moving Jaw 86 away from tube 80in a manner hereinbefore set down.

It has been found desirable to reduce the amount of heating elementimmediately after the oil has reached the aforesaid predeterminedtemperature and as soon as motor M starts. A secondary control switch|80, having contact points |82 and |84, is provided to be operated byshaft 68 as it is rotated. A lug |86 engages contact |82 or 'someassociated part to open this switch for the purpose of adding an addi--tional amount of heating element to that being used. 'I'his will reducethe amount ofheat being imparted to the popping oil by the heatingelement 48 thereafter in' use and will keep the popping oil fromoverheating, scorching and smoking. A

'I'he bottom oi' housing 22 has perforations |88 formed therethrough anda drip pan |80 may be placed therebeneath for the purpose oi.' gatheringany oil or foreign matter that might be dropped from chute 22 when asack is not in position therebeneath. When member 28 is pulled out asaforesaid, the popped corn is lifted from its oating position on thesurface of the oil and dumpedfrom container 42. As soon as 28 isreleased, spring |44 will' draw the parts back to a place'wherecontainer42 is in the aforesaid intermediate position.

Reference to Fig. 10 readily indicates the manner in which the mainelectrical circuits are opened and closed during the operation of themachine. When member 28 is first moved in to start the operation of themachine, a part of lheating element 48 is in circuit after switch |62 isclosed. The circuit may then be traced as follows: From wire |92 tosupply line through wire |94, closed switch points |64 and |66, wire |96vthrough closed switchv points |82 and |84, Wire |98 and that portion ofheating element 98 between its point of connection and wire 200, andthence through the latter to the other side of the supply line 202.

When switch |80 is opened to increase the amount of resistance used inthe heating element to its maximum, the circuit is traced as follows:Wire |92, Wire 94, closed switch points |64 and |66, wire 204, wire 206,through all of element 48 to wire 200 and thence back to the other sideof the supply line 202.l

After the oil has reached its predetermined temperature, thermostat |12contacts point |14 to close the motor circuit which is tracedas follows:Wire |92, wire |94, closed points |64 and |66, wire 204, wire 208 tomotor M, wire 2|0, thermostat |12, point |14, wire 2| 2, wire 200 to theagrammaticauy in Fig. 1o. The light bulb 2u may be placed anywherewithin case 2 and Whenever the machine is in operation, the bulb isburning. This light circuit may be traced as follows:

' Wire |92, wire |94, closed contacts |64 and |66,

Wire 204, wire 206, wire 2|6, bulb 2|4, wire 2|8,

wire 200 to the other side of the supply line 202.

The relation with respect to time of operation of all the parts of thepop corn machine might be varied slightly, but the form and method ofoperation hereinbefore set down has been found to be commerciallypractical and efficient in producing good popped corn, and while thepreferred embodiment has been exemplified and described, it is desiredto be limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a pop corn machine of the character described, a reservoir forpopping oil; a perforated container movable to and from a position inthe reservoir where some of the perforated portion thereof is below thelevel of said oil; means for so moving the said container; means forintroducing a charge of corn into the container; common means forsupplying popping oil to the container and maintaining the level of thesame appreciably above the said charge of corn as it is being popped;apparatus for moving the said perforated container from the reservoirafter the corn has been popped; salt measuring structure; and means forintroducing a charge of salt into the popped corn as the latter is beingdumped from the container, said salt measuring structure being operableby the said container actuating vmeans as the latter is being operatedto move the container vto the position in the reservoir.

2. In a pop corn machine of the character described, a reservoir forpopping oil; a perforated container movableto and from a position in thereservoir where some of the perforated portion thereof is below thelevel of said oil; means for so moving the said container; means forintroducing a charge of corn into the container; common means forsupplying popping oil to the container and maintaining the level of thesame appreciably above the said charge of corn; apparatus for moving thesaid perforated container from the reservoir to dump the popped corn; amagazine to hold a plurality of sacks or the like; and means operable bythe said apparatus for feeding one of said sacks from the said magazineafter the charge of corn is introduced into said container and beforethe popped corn is dumped therefrom.

FLOYD I. ROACH.

